St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-02-19
PUBLISHER VS.. ATTORNEY.


The Suits and Cross Suits Between
Clarence .. Dresser and Rickel &
Butt Excite Great Interest.
Special to the Globe.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia. Feb.-The various
suits and cross suits between Clarence P.
Dresser, the Chicago newspaper CORE
spondent, and Rickel s. Bull. the Cedar
Rapids attorneys, have finally been disposed
of for the present by being transferred to
the higher courts, where they will come up
for trial in the March and June terms.
Both sides maintain a determined
attitude, and as they have en-
gagged several of tho best lawyers in
the state. and as many points OF public in
terest are involved, the case when it comes
to Trial, promises to excite much interest.
The fight began about three weeks ago,
when CIarenceP. Dresser came to Iowa to
secure possession of about $50, 900 worth of
property belonging to his sisters, in the
northern part of the stete. They had au-
thoriZed him to close sale of part of it,
and when he came to make a deed to his
customer. he found that Rckel & Bull, who
a year ago were his sisters attorneys, but
since discharged, had incumbered the prop
erty for about 81, 800. He could not per-
feet the sale till the incumbrance was le-
moved, and, after writing Rickel d Bull
several
PRETTY STRONG LETTERS
about the matter, he pitched into them
through the columns Of a paper which he
controlled in Northern Iowa, and gave
some incidents connected with their past
record which did not reflect to their credit
In place of disappearing the charges or re-
leasing the land, Rickel & Bull sought to
intimidate Mr. Dresser, and while he was
in Iowa swore out a number OF warrants
charging him with criminal and civil libel,
with making threats, etc. He retalated by
having warrants issued for Rickel's arrest,
charging him with perjury and attempt
ing to obtain money on false pretenSeS.
Then Rickel brought suit against Dresser
for $40, 900 damages, and tried to have the
newspaper man locked up. Although
arrested nearly dozen times Dresser gave
bail and continued to publish snatches OF
Rickel Il BULBS history. Then the latter
had an injunction issued which forbid
Dresser writing or printing anything fur
ther about them. Dresser claimed that the
Injunction was Illegally issued, and, getting
out special edition OF his paper, teeming
with a review of the case and structures on
BROADCAST OVER IOWA.
Rickel & Bull were furious. and had him
cited to appear before the district court for
contempt. After lengthy discussion he
was discharged, and the costs as
sessed against Rickel q Bull. At the
same time the court held that he
must obey the injunction about
writing or printing any comments on the
case. Dresser said he would appeal to the
supreme court for a dissolution of the in
junction, and pending the final decision he
would respect it. He then instructed his
attorneys to bring suit against Rickel & Bull
for S25, 600 for false Imprisonment and
malicious prosecution. At the same time
he arranged with Pinkerton and the best
detectives In the state to look up Rickel &
Bulls record. He says that he will be pre-
pared when he goes into court to prove that
everything he has printed about them was
true and was printed from
JUsTIFIABLE MOTIVES.
Dressers attorneyD incluss Messrs. Hor-
mel, Clark and Ped. of Cedar Rapids, and
Maj. Thompson, of Marion. Rickel q Bull
are assisted by Messrs. Crocker. Smith,
Powell and West, of Cedar Rapids. Rckel
t& Bull made a strong effort to have the
trial take place before the local justices, but
Dresser went into court and by waiying ex-
animation and filing bonds, had the cases
transferred to the highest courts, thus re-
moving them from where local influences
could seriously affect them and having until
the latter part of March wherein to get his
ammunition ready. Both sides expressed a
determination to carry on the fight to the
end, appealing, if necessary, to the supreme
court. In view of the peculiar features in
volved, the case is attracting universal at
tention among attorneys and newspaper
men. The final decision will give an i'm
portant precedent. in that it will determine
just what constitutes the libel law of Iowa.